Express Search and Characterization of Nitro Compounds via Visualization Mass Spectrometry.

The authors describe a way of detecting nitro and amino compounds using a mass spectrometer with laser desorption/ionization. This allows analysis of nitro- and amino compounds from a metal surface without sample preparation at levels of up to 5 ng/cm² relative to paracetamol. Sensitivity is at the level of modern means of analysis, and the procedure is simple and fast. It is also universal and can be modified to search for other nitro- and amino compounds. Pointwise quantitative analysis can be done using an external standard. The dynamic range is 1.5–2 orders of magnitude. The technique can be used to analyze metal surfaces for nitro-paint residues and traces of explosive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]